STIs that can increase the risk of dementia – an upward

Sexually transmitted infections (STIS) can not only lead to awkward chats with your latest outbreak.

Research shows that certain sexually transmitted infections can increase your chances of developing dementia, a memory disease that affects one in 10 elderly people in the United States.

This is disturbing, with more than 2.4 million cases reported in 2023 alone, given that ETI is booming across the country. What is even more worrying is that in the past decade, infections have more than doubled in adults aged 65 and older.

Through research, it is unlikely that older people will undergo regular sexually transmitted infection screening, and many healthcare providers ignore healthcare providers who discuss sexual health with these patients, and the age group may be particularly susceptible to long-term impacts such as cognitive decline.

Here are four sexually transmitted infections that can increase your chances of dementia.

Herpes

If you think herpes is just an annoying cold sore situation, think twice.

According to Johns Hopkins.

But this is the kicker: the virus responsible for herpes can enter the brain and stay dormant before reactivated later. When doing so, some studies suggest it may trigger inflammation in the brain, which may damage brain cells and increase the risk of dementia.

In fact, people with HSV-1, HSV-2, or both are 2.44 times more likely to develop dementia than people who have never been infected.

“These findings highlight more research into this mechanism, highlighting the contribution of HSV to cognitive decline, and whether such mechanisms can serve as a preventive strategy for dementia,” said Giulio Taglialatela, Ph.D., senior author and director of the Moody Brain Health Institute at UTMB.

Syphilis

Syphilis has made a major comeback in the United States, which has not only affected the younger population: cases in adults aged 55 and older have increased by nearly 700% since 2010.

While syphilis can be treated with penicillin and other antibiotics, if not resolved, the infection affects any and every organ system. A particularly serious complication is neurohygiene, where bacteria invade the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and destruction of brain tissue.

In later stages, Neurosyphilis can lead to syphilis dementia, which usually develops 10 to 25 years after the initial infection. Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, personality changes, trouble concentration, depression and even delusion.

Good news? Experts say dementia associated with neurohygiene is “possibly reversible” but only if it is captured and treated early.

Genital warts

The CDC estimates that at any given time, about 400,000 people in the United States suffer from genital warts.

Genital warts are common sexually transmitted infections caused by certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can cause inflammation in the brain, which is the main factor in the development of dementia.

A 2020 study using health insurance data from 16,000 patients in Taiwan found that people with genital warts caused by HPV had a 49% increased risk of dementia. Studies have also shown that HPV-related cervical cancer is associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Fortunately, the HPV vaccine prevents strains responsible for most genital warts and is very effective in preventing genital warts and cervical cancer.

HIV/AIDS

Nearly 1.2 million people in the United States suffer from HIV.

When the virus spreads to the brain, it triggers inflammation, damages brain cells and releases harmful toxins—all of which lead to cognitive decline and, in severe cases, may lead to HIV-related dementia.

In a 2022 study, researchers compared 13,000 Kaiser Permanente patients with HIV to more than 155,000 people without the virus. They found that 2.5% of HIV patients were diagnosed with dementia during the 16-year follow-up period, while 1.3% were diagnosed with dementia.

On average, HIV patients were diagnosed with dementia 10 years earlier than patients without disease.

“Effective drugs have transformed HIV into a manageable condition for most patients,” said Dr. Jennifer Lam, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente, who chaired the study. “That’s why it’s important to address the health problems that aging brings.”